McKissack and Black Architecture Driving

The story of Black architecture in Nashville cannot be told without McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s first Black-owned architecture firm. Founded in 1905 by Moses McKissack III and later led by his brother Calvin, the firm has played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s built environment. 

As you embark on this journey through Nashville’s Black architectural heritage, you’ll witness firsthand the vision and craftsmanship of McKissack—a firm that turned brick and mortar into monuments of Black excellence.

The firm’s origins trace back to Moses McKissack I, a skilled carpenter who was enslaved in Alabama and trained in construction by his enslaver, a Scottish builder. His son, Moses McKissack II, continued the family trade and passed it down to his sons, who formalized their talents into a thriving business. Their work spans over a century, and their impact extends far beyond Nashville. Historically, the firm was known as McKissack & McKissack, but for the purposes of this tour, we’ll use their preferred name today, which is simply: McKissack.

Hello, I’m Brian Tibbs, and I am managing partner with Moody Nolan. Moody Nolan is the largest Black owned architecture firm, and it’s been in Nashville for thirty years. I have been a resident of Nashville for almost all of those thirty years, twenty-eight years, and I am happy to be a part of this tour.

This tour was written by Dr. Learotha Williams, Jr. Dr. Williams is a Professor of History at TSU and director of the North Nashville Heritage Project. Russell Lestourgeon, an architect on staff at the Nashville Historical Foundation served as a consultant. Funding for this tour was made possible through a Metro Participatory Budget grant. 

As a reminder, you should not use your phone while driving. For each stop, you can listen from your car or get out, walk around, and enter buildings and campuses if open to the public. Directions and parking options are provided at the end of each stop. This tour begins at Tennessee State University. So, crank up your car and let’s head to the visitor parking lot across from Kean Hall at TSU. Don’t forget to take pictures and tag us on social media @NashvilleSites!

Begin the tour in the TSU visitor’s parking lot at 33rd Ave N and John Merritt Blvd. You can listen to the stop from your car, or check in with campus security and walk around the campus to see the buildings on the first stop. You can begin by turning RIGHT at the Averitte Amphitheater and following the sidewalk to the historical marker in front of Hankal Hall. Click on the photo of the campus map to see where each building on the tour stop is located.